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Writing for Us
A CurtainUp New Jersey Review
The Whipping Man
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You're living in the world now, not serving in it—Simon
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Photo credits: Left to Right: Luke Forbes, Ron Canada, Adam Gerber
(Photo: Charles Erickson)
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Award-winning playwright Matthew Lopez's unorthodox (no pun-intended) drama about three Jews, two of whom are African-Americans, former household slaves intriguingly considers the presence of well-to-do, property and slave-owning Jews as an historical reality in antebellum Richmond, Virginia. In the George Street Playhouse revival the Ron Canada, Adam Gerber, Luke Forbes are expertly and sensitively directed by Seret Scott, who previously directed a fine revival of A Raisin in the Sun for the George Street Playhouse.
The dramatics are mostly confined to talk, much of it incendiary and also perhaps with just a little too much exposition. However, there are some fist-clenching and mind-bending moments that lead to the climactic Seder.
The idea of Jews observing Passover — an event that celebrates the time of their freedom from slavery in the land of Egypt — who would find themselves slave-holders centuries later adds a fascinating and sadly ironic note to the drama.
Flecked with humorous moments and just as many fired by lingering and unresolved rage, The Whipping Man casts an almost haunting spell. This is apparent in Jason Simms' crumbling setting and Burke Brown's moody lighting.
The Whipping Man opened in New York at the Manhattan Theatre Club in 2011 following a number of regional theater productions. It wan the Outer Critics Circle's coveted John Gassner Award for an Outstanding Play Written by a Young American Playwright and continues to be produced with great success across the country and elsewhere. I can't imagine a finer production than the one now at the George Street Playhouse
For more plot details, see CurtainUp's review of its New York premiere here.
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The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez Directed by Seret Scott Cast: Ron Canada (Simon), Adam Gerber (Caleb), Luke Forbes (John) Set Design: Jason Simms Costume Design: Helen Q. Huang Lighting Design: Burke Brown Sound Design: Ted Crimy Fight Direction: Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet Production Stage Manager: Thomas Clewell Running Time: 2 hours including intermission George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, N.J. Tickets ($28 to $67) or GSPonline.org Performances: Sunday and Tuesday evening at 7 pm; Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8 pm; Matinees Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm From 01/20/15 Opened 01/23/15 Ends 02/15/15 Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 01/23/15 |
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